Multiple people have died in Mexico City the wake of Mexico’s win over Ecuador in the knockout round of the World Cup on Tuesday night, according to Reuters.
Four people died during late night street celebrations in the nation’s capital, three due to asphyxiation, Mexico City’s department of health said. Emergency teams had tended to three unconscious people at different locations around the Paseo de la Reforma, which is the main stretch where giant screens have been set up for fans in the city to gather and watch games.
Per the report, both a 19-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man died of suffocation after receiving advanced resuscitation efforts. A 48-year-old woman also died of asphyxiation in the hospital. A fourth man in his 30s was taken to the hospital after suffering from seizures and gastrointestinal bleeding, and later died after a cardiac arrest.
El Tri advanced to the Round of 16 on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over Ecuador at Mexico City Stadium. Mexico scored both goals in the first half, first after Julián Quiñones scored in the 22nd minute and again less than 10 minutes later after Raul Jiménez scored after a bad Ecuador turnover.
The win, Mexico’s first in the knockout round in four decades, set up a match with England on Sunday.
Celebrations erupted in the streets in Mexico City and throughout the Paseo de la Reforma after the win, while many quickly got out of hand. A crowd rush was triggered by pyrotechnics that went off and caused a panic, too. Around one million people gathered in the city to watch the game on Tuesday.
An investigation is now ongoing. Mexico City has already banned alcohol sales on days of Mexico matches in the World Cup, increased the number of screens up for fans to watch games and blocked several streets off from traffic.
It’s unclear what, if anything, will change for fans watching in the streets in Mexico City for Mexico’s game with England on Sunday, though an evaluation on that front is underway.
“People need to celebrate responsibly,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday, via Reuters.
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